QDM surveys arriving in area

MIKE BOGAN

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, December 23, 2001

The DNR will be mailing 1,000 randomly-selected hunters and 1,000 landowners in the tri-county region surveys made up by the DNR wildlife office. The survey asks them for their opinion on the QDMA's 5-year, 4-points-on-one-side (all points must be 1 inch or longer) proposal. The proposal restricts taking deer unless they have at least 4 points on one side of their antlers. The plan also includes deer management education programs, and encourages hunters to provide deer data at DNR check stations.

Frawley said similar types of deer management plans have been implemented in pockets in Michigan. Currently, there are several areas in the central Upper Peninsula, and a couple in the Lower Peninsula, including Clare County.

Frawley knows this is a hot topic in the Thumb area.

"This is the largest, most ambitious proposal the state has seen," he said.

Hunters and landowners who receive the survey are encouraged to return it as soon as possible. Up to three additional mailings will be sent out to people who don't respond after a few weeks, reminding them of the importance of their input.

Frawley said the DNR anticipates about 80 percent of the people who receive surveys will respond.

"That number is a very good response for this type of survey," he said. "We know it's a very important topic in the area."

If 66 percent approve the plan according to the results of the survey, the proposal will go to the Natural Resources Commission for action.